Brassiere



April 20, 1954 a. LEVENTHAL BRASSIERE Filed April 2, 1953 INVENTOR 545mm ZZVA-NTHAL. I? ATTORNE-Y Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATEd AT'ENT OFFICE 2,675,550 BRASSIERE Gabriel Leventhal, o eame n N. Y. Application April 2, 1953'; serial- N0. 346,353

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates generally to feminine undergarments, and in particular it relates to breast supporting undergarments commonly known as brassires. Even mor particularly, the present invention relates to the bodyencircling portions of brassires.

conventionally, brassieres comprise a front portion, a pair of body-encircling portions secured to the outer ends of the front portion, and a pair of shoulder straps of adjustable length. The front portion consists of a pair of breast receiving pockets; the body-encircling portions are of sufficient length to extend about the sides and back of the body of the wearer, and the end portions thereof usually of laterally extensible material are provided with cooperating fastener elements whereby they can be engaged at the back of the wearers body. One end of each shoulder strap is secured at the top of each breast receiving pocket, the other ends of the straps being secured to the body-encircling portions near the ends thereof. These straps are adjustable in length, as noted, in order that the breast receiving pockets can be adjusted to the position desired by the individual user. Thus, the wearer can adjust the straps to whatever length is needed and most comfortable for supporting the breasts. The straps, however, are of non-extensible material and when the wearer is moving about, as during Walking or bending, shifting of the breasts will put strains and stresses on the straps resulting in pressure on the shoulders beneath the straps and consequent pain and discomfort to the wearer.

It is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to provide a new and improved brassiere.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ibrassire having means thereon to absorb and relieve strains on the shoulder straps.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a brassire which will yield in response to shifting movement of the breasts thereby to absorb the stresses and strains normally imposed on the shoulders by the shoulder straps.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a shoulder-strap type of brassiere wherein the breast-receiving pockets in the front of the garment are of inextensible material and. the body-encircling portions are of extensible material, certain parts thereof immediately adjacent the breast receiving pockets being extensible in one direction while the end portions at the back of the garment are extensible in a direction at an angle to the axis of extension of the said certain parts.

Other, further and more specific objects of the present invention will, in part, be obvious and, in part, specifically pointed. out in the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one form of brassiere constructed according to and embodying the present invention; and

Figures 2 and 3 are sections respectively on the line 2--2 and 3-3 of Figure 1.

The brassiere of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral Ill and comprises a front portion l2, and a pair of body-encircling portions I4, I5. The shoulder strap components are indicated by reference numeral I8. The front I2 includes a pair of breast receiving pockets 28, 26. One end 22 of each shoulder strap I8 is secured to the upper edge 24 of each breast receiving pocket. The other end 26 of each shoulder strap I8 is secured to the upper edge 28 of the body-encircling portions I4, IE near the free end 36, 32 thereof, at the back. The straps I8, I8 are adjustable in length by means of slides 34, 34

7 mounted near the front ends 22, 22 thereof. Front portion I2 and shoulder straps I8, I8 are formed of inextensible material.

Each of body-encircling portions I4, I 6 are, however, formed of two panels of stretchabl material. Each portion I4, I6 is composed of a side panel 40, normally extending from the front portion I2 around the side of the body, and a back panel 44 normally overlying half the back of the wearer. One lateral edge 42 of each panel 40 is stitch-secured to an outer lateral edge I3 of front I2. A lateral edge 46 of panel 44 is secured to the other lateral edge 28 of side panel 40. Side panels 40, do are composed of horizontally extensible material, including strands 52- of elastic material, while the end panels 44, 4d are composed of vertically extensible material including strands 54, 54 of elastic material. The free ends 30, 32 of back panels 44, 44 are provided with cooperating fasteners as hooks (not shown) at one end 3!! and eyes 56, 56 at the other end 32 thereof.

It is to be noted, as a special feature of this invention, that shoulder strap ends 26, 26 are secured to the upper edge of the back panels 44, 44. Thus, when the garment is on the body, any pulls or other strains on the straps I3, I8 will be extended to and absorbed by the vertical extension of panels 44, 44 in the direction of the pull or strain. The provision of horizontal extensibility in side panels 40, 40 permits a closer fit about the body of the wearer consistent with increased comfort and less vertical slippage during movement of th wearer's body.

The undergarment of the present invention is of simple construction and of few parts. Its assembly requires no more than ordinary ability and skill, and it is positive in its operation in connection with absorbing stresses and strains which otherwise cause discomfort to the wearer.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A brassire comprising a front portion including a pair of breast-receiving pockets of nonelastic material, a side body covering panel secured to the outer lateral edges of the front portion, a pair of back body covering panels secured to the outer lateral edges of the side-covering panels, and a pair of shoulder-overlying straps 4 one end of each of which is secured to the upper edge of each breast receiving pocket and the other end of each of which is secured to the top of each back panel, the side panels being of material extensible only in a horizontal direction and the back panels being of material extensible only in a vertical direction along the line of the shoulder straps extension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,199,442 Mayonnade May 7, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 415,023 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1934 

